#Selling the Amiga
4 messages in this thread
Steven,
and you demonstrate the other side of the coin. I do have to disagree
with holding up WordIMPerfect as an example. I never could stand the
program, even on an IBM. It looked like a kludge, ran like a kludge, felt
like a kludge. You couldn't get Final Copy from me except by prying it
from my cold dead fingers. It isn't perfect, but I don't need a manual to
fly it. We do have some decent packages, but I have yet to see a
fantastic piece of software out that a normal user could appreciate.
I'm not a video type so all the neat stuff from GVP, Black Belt, etc.
just passes me by. 24 bit video? That's nice, what use is it for me?
Pretty much the same applies to all the niche applications for this
machine.
When I bought my first Amiga in '85, I only purchased it for the
multi-tasking. Since then, that has been it's only saving grace since
they are still trying to get it right in IBM- and Mac-land . It was only
recently that I began to see clipboard support as a "standard". Why?
This standard was in my V1.1 RKM's. Then we had the rush to ARexx, but
you have to be, pretty much, a programmer to operate it. I sure as heck
wouldn't inflict it on my mother. She can code Fortran, but ARexx is
downright weird, at times.
What I'm trying to say here, is I see quite a few good ideas that we
have established for this machine and they seem to dangle out there for
years. When we do implement them as standards, you need a Sc.D. to
operate them, or get conflicting information. Furthermore, the good
applications we do have, with few exceptions either aren't robust enough
to draw anyone to this machine, are limited to a niche, or quality control
sucks rocks.
I am not a cheap Amiga user. I put a lot of money in the pockets of
shareware and commercial developers, but I frequently ask myself: Why?
What am I getting? Even when I pay $429 for a package, it has bugs.
Something is wrong with this picture.
Brian
<continued>
Brian,
I AM a cheap Amiga user. 🙂 I've purchased very little; Whap!, AP,
CrossDOS, Enhancer and 2.0. The rest of the stuff I have (not much) was
given to me by the author or publisher.
My interest in the Amiga was the multitasking too; and the availability of
more resources (RAM & HD) than I could get with my C128. There was also a
price advantage over other 16-bit machines. I've had my A500/A590 for a
few years now and haven't even paid for it yet!
If I had to make the jump from C128 today, I'd probably have to get a
Windows box (and grumble about it every time I used it). That or a low-end
Mac. I might even just go with getting more RAM & HD for the 128!
Don't think you don't get bugs in expensive packages on the other
platforms. The first thing that comes to mind for me is Ventura Publisher.
UGH! 😛
Malcolm
Brian,
It would appear that we have virtually the same viewpoint on this
question. You haven't said a thing I would disagree with other than that
the recent incarnations of WordPerf on the Mac and PC are much better than
those old 4.x versions which were horrendous to use. The Windows versions,
like the Mac versions, are much nicer, although, personally, I prefer MS
Word. I, too, am not a cheap user. I, too, like FinalCopy, and I don't
have much use for all the graphic software because, like you, I don't have
much need for it. I, however, love ARexx which I use extensively and find
to be as easy to learn and use as I did Basic. In general, I think we're
on the same wavelength, and I'm glad to see I'm not all alone on most of my
thoughts on this controversial topic!! So, then, what can be done?
Brian:
I never liked WordPerfect either. Not on MS-DOS, not on the Mac, and not
on the Amiga. In fact, not even on Windows! I'd say that "kludge" is an
accurate description of each.
I'm not into video either. I've always liked the Amiga for its
interesting custom hardware and superior OS. I just wish more software
was written to take advantage of these features.
I also don't consider myself a "cheap" Amiga user. I don't have the money
to buy a lot, but I'm willing to pay for what I need. I'm also willing to
pay for quality. I don't pirate software (honestly), and I register any
shareware that I use on a regular basis.
As for buggy software, I think you'll find plenty of it no matter how
expensive it is or what platform it runs on.
Wayne Steele
Saving $ with AutoPilot